







Vera Indelli thinks about her answer as she speaks with Santa Claus at the Messenger Public Library's annual Holiday Open House Sunday in North Aurora Sunday. She was with her dad Bill of North Aurora. A balloon artist, a face-painter and other activities rounded out the day.
John Starks | Staff Photographer

Henry Myers, 14, inspects Russian Christmas babushka nesting doll decorations Sunday at the Elgin Public Museum's Touching on Traditions exhibit. The exhibit features more than 50 displays of holiday significance from countries around the globe. Henry was with his dad Art and brother Andy. He was at the museum to gather information for a school project. The holiday exhibit will be shown every day starting Dec. 18 until the end of the month.
John Starks | Staff Photographer


Marie Duetschmann of Grace Lutheran Church sings to the song "Footloose" as she packs bags of food at the Feed My Starving Children event Sunday at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake. Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Libertyville sponsored the event which hoped to pack a million meals over the weekend to distribute globally.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer




Aaron Ketchmark, 6, of Kouts, Indiana watches as rice is poured into a bag. Aaron was attending a birthday party for his cousin Cameron Tonkery of Hainesville who celebrated his eleventh birthday by having his party at the Feed My Starving Children event at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Party goers spent time packaging meals to be sent to starving children around the world.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer


Round Lake Beach police officer Steve Sandacz watches as five-year-old Anthony Branch of Round Lake Beach tries on a winter coat as needy children were met by police officers and escorted through the Wal-Mart store to shop for Christmas presents Monday. This year because of generous donations, the Village of Round Lake Beach had 60 kids participate in the program.
Steve Lundy@dailyherald.com

Kunwar Mehta, 4, smiles and says "it tickles!" as he gets painted by teacher Lori Mehan to put his handprint on some reindeer art at Pottawatomie preschool in St. Charles Monday. The preschool program is having an open house January 15th for interested parents and kids.
Rick West | Staff Photographer

Three-year-old Grace Haase reacts as she sees Santa Claus while her pug Guapo seems less interested as they wait their turn in line Monday evening at the Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee. The mall is welcoming pet owners again to have their photo taken with Santa on Monday the 13th, 6-9 pm. The Haase family is from Crystal Lake.
John Starks | Staff Photographer




Mike Martin of Batavia, left, and Jack Lapice of Romeoville use an underwater camera to locat the edge of the weed bed for the best ice fishing on Silver Lake in Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville on Wednesday. Ice fishing has begun this week after the area's recent cold temperatures. The ice is currently about 4 inches thick.
Bev Horne | Staff Photographer

Eric Eiler, with the Stevenson High School National Honor Society, unloads toys that the school collected this past week as volunteers at Catholic Charities Lake County collect, sort, and distribute toys and clothes Wednesday at a storage facility in Waukegan. Catholic Charities hopes to deliver gifts to over 12,000 individuals for the holiday season. Sailors from Great Lakes Naval Base helped unload the gifts.
Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer


Vernon Hills High School senior Ariana Campos cuddles with service dog Lida as the Interact Club held their fourth-annual holiday doggie bake sale Thursday at the school. All the proceeds go to benefit Canine Companions for Independence who had several service dogs on hand for students to pet.
Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

Lombard firefighter/paramedic Josh Hays picks up toys from Pleasant Lane Elementary in Lombard. Left to right are student council members Thomas Batka, Josilin Johnson, Alexis Weltin, and Avyn Alairys helping bring out the toys. The toys will be taken in the toy parade on Saturday to Yorktown Center, where they will then be part of the toy drive. "I think it's going to a good cause", said fifth-grader Joslin Johnson, president of the student council. All members of the student council agreed it's better to give the toys to charity, then having them sit around at home unused. The school collected over 100 books and toys for the drive this year.
Bev Horne | Staff Photographer







